Yesterday, was on the train back home and D calls up to find out whether I would be late. She was out and was to be back late in the evening.

Now whats was the best thing that I could do when I am alone.......yes you are right....I decided to make some cookies. Npw, I have been planning to make some italian biscotti since ages....have scoured teh net for recipes, have bought an Italian cookbook etc etc....and inspite of the fact that I have hordes of biscotti recipes, I have never actually got myself to make any.I remember when we were in Venice, I bought a couple of packets and they were bloody expensive.

So finally, yesterday decided to bake some biscotti called Cantuccini.Its only after baking them did I realise that they are so simple to make and so yummy......

Cantuccini

1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar (more if you wnat them sweeter)
1 tea spoon baking powder
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla essence
1/2 cup blanched almonds

Preheat the oven to 350 deg F. Mix the flour, sugar and baking powder in a bowl. In a separate bowl combine the eggs and the essence and beat it. Pour the egg mixture in to the dry mixture and add the blanched almonds and mix it with a wooden spoon. Keep mixing till all the ingredients are combined.

Gather the mixture and put on a chapati board and keep kneading it to form a dough. It can be sticky, so use dry flour to get rid off the stickiness so that it forms a firm dough.

Divide it in to two portins and using your palms, make a log out of each portion.

Transfer it to a greased baking tray and using your palms flatten the logs a bit once you transfer it to the tray.

Put it in to the oven for 30 minutes. (after 15 mins a beautifuly vanilla fragrance will fill the house).Remove it out and leave it to cool for 5 minutes. Use a sharp knife cut the logs in to slices.Separate the slices and put them back in to the oven for 10 - 15 minutes.

Remove them out and leave them to cool on a wire rack. Store (whatever is left ) in to airtight containers.

The best method of having them is by dunking them in coffee.........

Bis=two
Cotti= cooked

Biscotti = twice cooked.....thats why these cookies are called Biscotti.

KT: These are real simple....so try them out...u wont regret it....just takes 30 mins or so to prepare.......